Sled-runner.



0. PEARSON. SLED RUNNER. mmcmon men MAR. 4, 1915..

Patented May 16, 1916.

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UNHED s ra rss mania OTTO PEARSON, OFIMOUNT .IETWETT, PENNSYLVANIA.

SLED-RUNNER.

Application filed March 4, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTTO PEARSON, a subject of the King of Sweden, residing at Mount J ewett, in the county of McKean and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sled-Runners; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in sleds and more particularly to those in which the runners are flexed for steering.

The object of the invention is to provide a sled of this character, the runners of which are so constructed that the elasticity at their flexing point is greatly increased and the life thereof thus prolonged.

Another object is to so construct sled runners of this character that when they do break, they will not snap off abruptly, but will break transversely in sections first one, and then another, thereby affording greater safety to the user.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and ar rangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a sled equipped. with this improved runner; Fig. 2 repre sents an enlarged detail sectional *iew showing the connection of the front knee of the sled with the runner at its point of flexing. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line of Fig. 1. y

In the embodiment illustrated, a sled 1 is shown of the type which is steered by bending the runners 2 laterally to cause the sled to traverse a curved path. This bending or lateral flexing occurs at the point where the front bench 3 is secured to the runners. These runners are composed of angle-irons or bars and as shown, are substantially inverted T-shape in cross section with their lower faces or running surfaces longitudinally corrugated as shown at 4, to prevent skidding sidewise. The upright flanges 5 of these runners 2 are connected with the knees 7 of the rear bench 8 by the usual rivets or bolts 9 which pass through registering aper tures 10 and 11 in the knees and flanges respectively. The rear legs 12 of the front knees 13 are also connected with the flanges Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916.

Serial No. 12,088.

5 by bolts passing through similar apertures in the legs and flanges.

The front legs 1 1 of the knees 13 are connected by bolts 15 which pass through longitudinally extending slots 16 formed in said flanges 5. These slots are about the same width as the diameter of the apertures 11 and are about four times as long, more or less. These slots 16 are designed to render the runners more elastic and to prevent them from snapping at their flexing point as the upper and lower sections 17 and 18 formed by the slots will not break simultaneously, but it has been found by experience that the lower section 17 which is thicker than the upper section 18, will break first and if continued strain be exerted, that the upper section 18 will break later, which is owing to the fact that the upper section is more re silient than the lower section. This successive breaking of these parts provides ample time to permit the user to discover the fracture and thus prevent possibly a dangerous accident. From the above, it will be obvious that by constructing these openings 16 in the form of slots, which while they are of the same width or height as the round apertures ordinarily used, are elongated, provides two sections 17 and 18 and renders the runner more elastic at this point and causes it to break gradually when breakage occurs, owing to the difference in thickness of the two sections, as above set forth. This slotted connection of the runners with the front knees is provided at the point of resistance which occurs on the lateral bending or fieX- ing of the front portions of the runners, it being obvious that when the runners are turned laterally by means of the steering bar SB, their flexing point will occur at their connection with said front knees and this is the point where breakage usually occurs.

As shown, the bolt 15 which connects the front leg of the front knee of the sled with the slotted portion of the runner, is disposed at the front end of the slot 16 so that when the runner is flexed laterally, the end wall of the slot will form a stop to prevent any slipping of the knee connecting bolt in the slot. The knee at its point of connection with the runners is also sufliciently wide as to sub stantially cover the slot 16.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of a sled body, runners, knees connecting said runners and body, said runners at their point of c0nnection With the front knees having elongated out out portions to increase the elasticity of the runners at these points.

2. A laterally flexible sled runner having an upright flange provided with a longitudinally extending slot above the tread thereof at the flexing point of the runner.

3. The combination of a sled body, laterally flexible runners having upright flanges provided with longitudinally extending slots at their flexing points, connections for the body and runners, the connection at the front of the sled being engaged With the slots in said runners.

4-. The combination of a sled body, laterally flexible runners having upright flanges provided with longitudinally extending slots at their flexing points, connections for the body and runners, bolts extending transversely through the connection at the front of the sled and through said slots, said bolts being engaged with the front end Walls of the slots.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

OTTO PEARSON. Witnesses:

SExTUs LUNDBERG, HAROLD K. LUNDBERG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commissioner'of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

